News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The City of Sparta will be adding some new features to the South Carter Street Park.
Mayor Jeff Young said a $42,500 state grant will install a new pavilion and kayak dock at the park.
“I think it’s going to be a great need and will fulfill a need that’s void for us now,” Young said. “We’ve got the pavilion where people can come in and have a picnic or reunion with their families. They can put their kayak on the water at the new dock, float up the river and enjoy Sparta.”
The dock will provide better kayak access to the Calfkiller River. A new restroom facility will also be constructed near the new pavilion, Young said.
“We hope to have everything ready by this fall,” Young said. “We’re taking bids on the kayak dock and infrastructure portions now and hopefully we’ll have those in within the next few weeks.”
Sparta became one of 27 communities to receive the Tennessee Tourism Enhancement Grant last month. White County received a $75,000 grant to improve kayak access along the Caney Fork River in the Big Bottom area.
County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said there’s a growing demand for better access areas in White County.
“With Jackson Kayak being here, kayaking is a big thing in White County and we’re going to enhance this area so people can get in and out of the water,” Robinson said. “We’re looking to grow this program and have more access areas, so people with less experience can take shorter trips and people with more experience can have longer trips.”
The state awarded a total of $1.3 million during the latest round of tourism enhancement grants. $249,200 went to four Upper Cumberland Communities.
